Temperature regulation of chemical reactions



March 21, 1939. R Q LA$$|AT 2,150,930

TEMPERATURE REGULATION OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS Filed Aug. 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR RAYMOND CLASSIAT H. I a V hvx ATTORNEY March 21, 1939. Q, L I T 2,150,930

TEMPERATURE REGULATION OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS :ql F7 2.

f lNVENTOR i. j RAYrsaowo CLAssIAT i\\ W m ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 21, 1939 2,150,930

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TEMPERATURE REGULATION OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS Raymond C. Lassiat, Woodbury, N. .L, assignor to Houdry Process Corporation, Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application August 15, 1935, Serial No. 36,278 11 Claims. (01. 23-288) This invention relates to treating operations, Fig. 4 is a further modification of the helical particularly to those involving the use of conu e o t u t o S ow in a tact masses. It has special application to treat- Fig. is a P View O F g. 4- ing or contacting operations wherein reactants or Re e en e is now made more in detail to the 5 other fluids are introduced into the treating drawings, in the several figures of which like refchamber, or into contact with a, onta t mass, erence characters denote similar parts, and the through a group of perforated conduit which treatment of a particular material is discussed, are preferably arranged in parallel, and resultant O e S ke o a definite illustration. products are withdrawn therefrom throughasec- I i a converter or r t o h m r, r-

0nd and similar group of interspersed conduits, rounded y insulation end having e deteeh- 10 for example after the manner illustrated in the able e d 3 which ehelOSeS menifelding chemcopending application of Eugene J, Houdry, s ber 4. At the lower end of the converter there rial No. 611,362, filed May 14, 1932, which issued s a similar manifolding chamber F u d to h as Patent No. 2,042,468 on June 2, 1936, treated, for example, a petroleum oil which it is One of the major difilculties in effecting chemdesired to Convert into a h e hyd bo 15 ical reaction with the aid of contact masses is in p such s gasoline or synthetic e. ethe temperature regulation of the mass so that pending p the Petroleum l Charging Stock no part of the same gets outside the desired and Other circumstances, is Supplied in VePQIOUS range. The parts most difiicult of control are Or atomized form to manifoldine h r 8 n those adjacent the walls of the converter, espe- Continuously Passes therefrom into conduits 2O cially the upper and lower ends or tube sheets through the lower p d thereof, thereby to by reason of the conductivity of these metallic be distributed throughout the Whole length f Walls. When the contact mass is a poor conthe chamber- It leaves Conduits 1 through U ductor of heat, the temperature variations of formlv spaced p i I2 and passes d a y such parts are most noticeable. In such a mass for e most p through Contact s 5 to 25 it is also usually necessary for adequate temper- Outlet Conduits 5 through grouped p s ature regulation to have the embedded distributll therein- The Contact mass 5 y consist of ing and withdrawal conduits in a defined spacial y suitable p s m ri l uch as various relation which may not iv th b t; t t of blends of silica and alumina of controlled activthe charge with the ma ity, pumice, or other contact mass capable of It is an object of this invention to avoid or to effecting the desired transforming treatin 30 reduce temperature difierences which tend to operation and maintained t an p rable temdevelop within the mass and especially at the perature- The fluids entering conduits 5 pass ends or tube sheets. Another object is to provide th u the open ds thereof t nii ldin an increased path of contact of reactants or chamber 4 and may be edlleted therefrom 35 other fluids in passing from inlet to other 0011- through suitable leads to further refining equ pduits, without increasing the spacing of the conmenti Storage elsewhere, as e d. duits. Other objects and advantages will appear If as a result eh t f reeetleh fr the application taken as a Wh01e tactma ss 6 has ts activity imp-aired by a con- 40 For a quick understanding of the invention tamlnatlng deposit thereon, regeneration of the 40 mass from time to time will be required. In the conversion of mineral oil the deposit is carbonaceous and sulphurous in character and regenerah tion is efiected by combustion of such contamireaction chamber or converter avlng a series of mints. For this purpose the on charge is Stopped 45 inlet and an interspersed series of W1thdr awal nd a, suitable regenerating medium, such as air condmts, P se nes havmg grouped or other oxygen containing gas is passed through ings, to glve fluids a diagonal flow or lengthwise the mass The regenerating medium may follow Sweeping action between Such conduits; the same path as does the oil charge during the Fig. 2 is a fragmentary V in reduced Size of on-stream portion of the cycle of operation, or conduits shown in Figbut W a modified it may flow in the reverse direction, for example, arrangement of openings therein; as desired.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative method for enforc- 9 are filling pipes through which catalyst or ing a diagonal path of flow of fluids between concontact mass 6 may be introduced into the dults; chamber within converter 1, and I0 are plugs 55 reference is made to certain illustrative embodiments in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. l is a view, partly in section, showing a which may be removed to provide openings for withdrawal of catalyst therefrom.

It will be noted that gaseous or vaporous fluid, in passing from uniformly spaced openings I2 to grouped openings II, travels in the main diagonally rather than horizontally or transversely, i. e., such fluid has a substantial longitudinal or vertical component of motion. This acts to iron out temperature difierences within the converter and particularly at the ends or tube sheets thereof. A substantial portion of the fluid is brought "close to or in direct contact with the tube sheet,

so that the heat supplied thereby keeps or tends to keep the tube sheet and the parts of the contact mass adjacent thereto at the temperature obtaining in the interior of the reaction chamber. The lengthened path of fiow provided by the diagonally moving fluids increases the velocity and turbulence of the flow thereby providing a longitudinal sweeping action which tends to eliminate or to minimize stagnant or dead spaces in the mass.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the inlet conduits 1c are provided with openings I 20, concentrated in their central portions and reduced or scarce toward their ends. Outlet conduits 50, attached to and communicating through the upper tube sheet, have openings II 0, reduced in their central portions and concentrated toward their ends. This reduction and concentration of openings as shown may be exaggerated somewhat over the actual arrangement for the sake of more clearly indicating the increased movement of fluids against or toward either tube sheets in their passage through the contact mass (not shown) between conduits. The arrows indicate in general the direction of movement.

Another means for forcing vapors or gases to flow diagonally, i. e., to have a substantial longitudinal component of motion, in passing from inlet conduits to outlet conduits, is illustrated in Fig. 3. Inlet conduits 5a (attached to the top tube sheet similarly to outlet conduits 5 in Fig. 1) have helical, funnel-shaped members I3 attached thereto. Openings Ila are also helically arranged in conduits 5a just above or adjacent the line where members I3 are attached thereto. Fluids passing from conduits 5a through contact mass 6a to conduits Ia, are forced by the helical, funnel-shaped guiding members I3 to follow an extended diagonal path and to sweep toward or adjacent the end or tube sheet of the converter. Openings Ila and I2a are each uniformly spaced on their respective conduits, although the former are also helically arranged. While the helical, funnel-shaped members are shown attached to inlet conduits, it is also contemplated that they may be attached to outlet or withdrawal conduits.

In Fig. 4 an inlet or withdrawal conduit 5b is shown, having uniformly spaced openings IIb therein and having a series of cup-shaped, funnel members I3b thereon held in place by suitably attached projections I4, which are best seen in Fig. 5. The elongated circular openings I5, intervening between projections I4, are of size sufficient for the free passage of catalyst or contact mass, when filling the converter or discharging the same therefrom.

While openings D are shown evenly spaced along the length of conduit 5b, it is also contemplated that they may be grouped just above or adjacent the bottom of each cup-shaped funnel member I3b, if desired.

The members I3 and I 3b, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, respectively, on portions of. the. conduitsonly will be understood, from the teachings in Figs. 1 or 2, to be oppositely disposed on portions of the conduits for directing fluid toward both tube sheets and in addition to enforcing diagonal flow of fluids between conduits, also serve in the capacity of fins or temperature equalizing means to some extent, thereby aiding in the maintenance of uniform temperature throughout the contacting chamber and contact mass.

Helical members I3 make introduction of contact mass into or its withdrawal from converter a convenient operation, for the pitch of the helices is sufficiently great so that the particles of contact mass will freely flow down them.

The present invention is of value in controlling all chemical reactions efiected by or with the ail of contact masses which involve production or absorption of heat, such as the synthesis of ammonia, the esterification of organic acids and alcohols, the dehydration of fatty acids, the conversion and modification of hydrocarbons including mineral oil, its derivatives and residues, etc. It has double importance for the transformation, conversion or other treatment of all materials which produce burnable deposits on the contact mass, so that the latter is operated alternately on stream and in regeneration by oxidation as in certain of the operations already referred to, as well as in the treatment of resinous materials to produce rosin oil, and similar reactions.

While the divergent or diagonal movement of fluid has been herein disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, as applied in greater or less degree to the entire depth of the converter it is to be understood that it may be utilized in part only, as at one end,

while the remainder or major part of the operation is conducted in relatively direct horizontal or transverse flow after the manner illustrated in the aforesaid copending application, Serial No. 611,362, of Eugene J. Houdry, relating to distribution of reactants within and control of temperature of catalysts or contact masses.

What I claim is:

1. The process of effecting chemical reactions in the presence of a contact mass disposed in a confined reaction zone which comprises charging the reactant fluid into said mass at a plurality of points throughout the depth and breadth of said zone, removing the products of the raction at a plurality of points throughout the depth and breadth of said zone but spaced from said first named points, and efiecting a general movement of a portion of the fluid, which passes through said mass, from the center toward the end portions of said zone through which said reactant fluid is introduced thereinto so as to increase the velocity at which fluids pass through said mass without substantially altering the overall space velocity of fluids through said reaction zone, thereby to improve the temperature control of the reaction and to increase the contact of the fluid with the mass.

2. In a process for treating hydrocarbon oil vapors wherein said vapors are introduced into a confined contacting zone by passing the same thereinto in a series of substantially parallel confined streams and ejecting the same laterally therefrom at a plurality of points into said contacting zone in contact with a contact mass and withdrawing fluid resulting from a contacting treatment at a plurality of points into another series of interspersed confined streams, the step which comprises causing a portion of said oil vapors to pass dagonally through said zone between'said confined streams toward both ends of said Zone and another portion thereof relatively laterally therethrough at points remote from said ends, thereby to improve the treatment or conversion of hydrocarbon oil and the temperature regulation of the contact mass.

3. Apparatus for eifecting contact treating operations comprising, a casing providing a reaction chamber for containing a contact mass and series of inlet and outlet conduits disposed in said mass in interspersed substantially parallel relation, the conduits of both said series having cooperating apertured areas extending lengthwise thereof and the apertured areas of adjacent inlet and outlet conduits being adapted to transfer fluid through all portions of the mass disposed therebetween, the apertured areas in at least one of the series being concentrated in the conduits in a plurality of spaced apart groups, said spaced groups of apertured areas being positioned at the ends of said conduits and inwardly thereof and effecting with the cooperating apertured areas of the other group of conduits a sweeping movement of fluid in a direction generally longitudinally of the conduits and toward the extremities of the contact mass in order to maintain all portions of the mass at a substantially uniform temperature.

4. Apparatus for treating a fluid charge which comprises a casing providing a reaction chamber, tube sheets within said casing defining said reaction chamber, groups of cooperating inlet and outlet tubes, supported by said tube sheets and disposed within said reaction chamber, the tubes of one of said groups being provided with apertures distributed over the length thereof and having apertured areas adjacent each end, the tubes of the other of said groups having apterured areas distributed over the length thereof but in a diiferent distribution, the total apertured cross sectional area adjacent each end of the tubes of said other group .being substantially less than at the ends of the tubes of said first group, the apertured areas of one of said groups being adapted to cooperate with the apertured areas of the other group to transfer fluid in a sweeping path lengthwise of the tubes between the respective cooperating apertured areas to thereby improve the temperature control of the reaction chamber at points adjacent said tube sheets.

5. Apparatus for treating a fluid charge which comprises a casing providing a reaction chamber, series of induction and eduction conduits arranged in interspersed, substantially parallel relation within said chamber, and perforations or openings non-uniformly spaced along the length of said conduits, the openings in said induction conduits being concentrated toward the centers and relatively scarce toward the ends thereof and the openings in said eduction conduits being concentrated toward their ends and relatively scarce toward the center thereof, said apparatus being thereby adapted to provide a substantial sweep of vapors through said reaction chamber in the direction of the length of said conduits.

6. Apparatus for treating fluids which comprises a casing providing a reaction chamber, a body of catalytic material within said chamber, groups of inlet and outlet conduits arranged in interspersed substantially parallel relation within saidmass, said conduits having spaced apertures therein and radiating fin-like members surrounding the apertures of at least one of said groups of conduits adapted to force fluid passing outwardly through the apertures to travel in a longitudinally sweeping path.

7. Apparatus for treating a fluid charge which comprises a casing providing a chamber, series of perforated induction and eduction conduits arranged in interspersed, substantially parallel relation within said chamber, and helical, funnelshaped members surrounding conduits of one of said series.

8. Apparatus for treating a fluid charge which comprises a casing providing a chamber, series of perforated induction and eduction conduits arranged in interspersed, substantially parallel relation within said chamber, and helical, funnelshaped members attached to conduits of one of said series along the length thereof, providing diagonal passages between the perforations in the conduits of said induction and eduction series.

9. Apparatus for treating a fluid charge which comprises a casing providing a chamber, series of perforated induction and eduction conduits arranged in interspersed, substantially parallel relation within said chambers, and cup-shaped funnel members on conduits of one of said series.

10. Apparatus for treating a fluid charge which comprises a casing providing a chamber, series of perforated induction and eduction conduits arranged in interspersed, substantially parallel relation within said chamber, and cup-shaped funnel members attached to conduits of one of said series, a plurality of said members being attached to each of said last named conduits in spaced nested arrangement, thereby to provide diagonal paths of flow between said induction and eduction conduits.

11. Apparatus for treating a fluid charge which comprises a casing providing a chamber, series of perforated induction and eduction conduits arranged in interspersed, substantially parallel relation within said chamber, and cup-shaped funnel members surrounding conduits of at least one of said series and spaced therefrom at frequent points to permit passage of solid particles of material therebetween.

RAYMOND C. LASSIAT. 

